Daily Political Wire 12-22-2010

George Wenschhof

START Ratification Expected Today - after several days of intense lobbying by the Obama administration, the debate in the senate on the START treaty came to a close yesterday by a vote of 67-28. Eleven Republicans broke with their leadership and voted for the treaty to proceed to a final vote. Unless, those Republicans who voted to end discussion have second thoughts, the treaty will be ratified today. The Washington Post has more here.

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House and Senate Pass Continuing Resolution - to fund government until March 4. This sets up the incoming congress with having to deal with funding for the remainder of the fiscal year which ends on September 30. Politico.com has more here.

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Obama Signs Repeal of D.A.D.T. - this morning, at a signing ceremony which included many who had fought hard for the repeal. A 60 day period must expire before the repeal goes into effect and then the military will have time to implement so changes will not necessarily be felt in the immediate future. CNN.com has more here.

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White House Prepares Executive Order for Guantanamo Bay Prisoners - 174 prisoners remain and 48 of these the administration has determined to continue holding indefinitely. The executive order would provide for a systematic review of the prisoners being held and determination as to whether they continue to pose a threat - a type of parole board. The NY Times has more here.

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Halliburton Settles Charges Against Cheney for 35 Million - charges had been filed by the Nigerian government against the former Vice President and others for bribery over a ten year period. The bribes were allegedly used to secure construction of a natural gas plant. TPM.com has more here.

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Obama Weekly Address 12-18-2010

George Wenschhof

President Obama Urges the Senate to ratify the START Treaty with Russia. He points to the support of every living Republican Secretary of State, former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, along with our NATO allies.

The Senate is expected to take up discussion today.



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Daily Political Wire 12-16-2010

George Wenschhof

Julian Assange Granted Bail - after an appeal by Sweden, a British judge granted bail with conditions on charges of sexual misconduct pertaining to incidents last summer.



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Afghanistan Review Mixed - the long awaited year end review of u.S. policy in Afghanistan shows some headway being made, but critical obstacles remain. The report suggests U.S. withdrawal of troops beginning in July 2011 is on schedule. Reuters.com has more here.

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President Obama Meets with Native American Leaders - in a little publicized meeting yesterday at the White House. Today, Obama will address over 4,000 Native Americans attending a conference at the Interior Department. The NY Times Caucus Blog has more here.

The treatment of Native Americans by the U.S. government over the years has long been an embarrassment.

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START Treaty to receive vote in Senate - yesterday, it easily broke a filibuster with a vote of 66-32. However, 67 votes are needed for ratification of a U.S. treaty. Democrat Evan Bayh (Ind.) was one of the two senators who did not vote and his vote will be critical for passage. Senator Jon Kyl (R-Az.) has led the opposition in spite of appeals from former Republican and Democratic Secretaries of State who urge ratification. The Wall Street Journal has more here.

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House to Vote on Tax Compromise Today - the House rules committee will allow a separate vote first on amendments, prior to considering the bill already approved by the Senate. the amended expected to be offered by the progressive Democrats will be to limit changes in the estate tax. The amendment is expected to fail and the 858 billion compromise tax bill to then pass. TheHill.com has more here.

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Repeal of D.A.D.T. Easily Passes House - yesterday, by a vote of 250-175. Unfortunately, the senate may not fit in a crowed schedule, a stand alone bill offered by Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). So, passage remains uncertain. Politico.com has more here.

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Daily Political Wire 12-2-2010

George Wenschhof

House to Vote on Rangel Censure Today - the long drawn out process will finally come to a close today. The vote will decide whether to censure Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) or issue a reprimand, as requested by Rangel. The House ethics committee found Rangel guilty on eleven counts of ethics violations and recommended censure. TheHill.com has more here.

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No Charges for Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.) - the senator had been under investigation for payments his parents made to his mistress and for his role in securing a job for the husband of his mistress. Ensign's lawyers say the Justice Department is no longer investigating him. You can read more here.

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House Ethics Committee Suspends Two Lawyers - they were placed on administrative leave with pay, for actions relating to the ethics investigation of Representative Maxine Waters (D- Calf.). She had been accused of steering bailout funds to a bank where her husband owned stock. Waters trail was to have started last month, but was called off without any explanation. stay Tuned... The NY Times Caucus Blog has more here.

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Knowing When to "Hold or Fold" When it Comes to Tax Cuts - the newly formed four member committee by President Obama charged to resolve the tax issue is already meeting with hopes for a proposal emerging as early as Sunday or Monday.

Meanwhile, the House will vote today to extend the tax cuts for those earning $250,000 or less. A largely symbolic vote, as the Senate will not pass it. FirstRead.com has more here.

The question remains as to what Democrats will be able to extract from Republicans in exchange for extension of all the Bush tax cuts. Stay Tuned...

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Former Republican Secretaries of State Urge Ratification of START Treaty - now we know why Colin Powell was meeting with President Obama recently at the White House. He is joined by four other former secretaries of state urging Republican senators to ratify the current START Treaty with Russia. Their op-ed in the Washington Post today can be read here.

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New "Watered Down" DREAM Act Submitted by Senate Democrats - in spite of a much less controversial bill, it is not expected to receive support during the lame duck session. Politico.com has more here. It is doubtful, more liberal Democrats in the House would pass this version anyway.

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Obama Weekly Address 11-20-2010

George Wenschhof

Today, President Obama speaks of the importance in ratifying the START Treaty with Russia. The treaty which further reduces nuclear arsenals, also provides for inspectors on the ground and is pivotal in maintaining nuclear security in the world.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will appear on three of the Sunday morning "Talking Heads" shows tomorrow, also making the case for the ratification of this treaty during the lame duck session of congress.



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Daily Political Wire 9-16-2010

George Wenschhof

Today, President Obama heads to New York to fund raise for Democrats - he will speak at an event for the DNC and also one for Connecticut U.S. Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal. Blumenthal is battling Republican Linda McMahon. You can read more here.

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Small Business Aid on the way - a day after President Obama blasted Republican leadership for blocking aid to small businesses, the Senate is expected to pass a bill today. 30 billion would be invested in community banks to encourage small business lending which has been stalled during the economic recession. In addition, tax breaks for small businesses are included in the bill. Small business growth is responsible for many of the new jobs created today. Reuters.com has more here.

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START Treaty to receive Senate committee vote today - the nuclear arms reduction treaty agreed upon by Russian President Medvedev and President Obama earlier this year will receive a vote today from the Senate Foreign Relations committee. When it will come before the full Senate for ratification is not known. A 2/3 vote is needed for passage. Politico.com has more here.

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DREAM Act expected to be voted on next week - the Development, Relief & Education for Alien Minors bill failed in 2007 by a 52-44 vote. Democrats in the Senate plan to attach the bill to an appropriation bill. The bill will be sure to create partisan discussion and election rhetoric as some far right Republicans have been calling for the repeal of the 14th amendment which provides U.S. citizenship to minors born in the United States. TheHill.com has more here.

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What will it take for meaningful campaign finance reform? - In California, Republican candidate for Governor; Meg Whitman, has spent a record 115 million of her own money. She is in a statistical dead heat with former Democratic Governor Jerry Brown.

Last year, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg spent 109 million of his money, (a then record), to win a third term. MSNBC.com has more here.

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Daily Political Wire 8-28-2010

George Wenschhof

President Obama will be guest tomorrow on NBC "Nightly News" - he will be interviewed by Brian Williams on the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. This interview with the president comes just days before Obama is to give his prime time speech on the U.S. withdraw of combat troops from Iraq. You can read more here.

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Glenn Beck et. al. to hold "Restore Honor" rally today in D.C. - what these wackos plan to accomplish is the question. Sarah Palin is the headline speaker planned to occur the same day and place as 47 years ago when the late Martin Luther king delivered his now famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Titling a rally as they have and planning it on this day gives rise to those who call the tea party activist movement racist. TPM.com has more here.

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Obama administration to announce new housing initiatives next week - HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan indicated one initiative will be a FHA refinancing program aimed at helping homeowners who are currently upside down with their mortgages. CNN.com has more here.

The other program will be a emergency loan program to help unemployed homeowners keep their homes. Donovan said they are also considering re instituting the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers.

This comes after a disappointing report showing existing home sales had fallen 27% in July, the largest decline in sales in a decade.

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Senate Vote to Ratify START Treaty to be delayed until after mid term elections - the agreement between Presidents Obama and Dimtri Medvedev agreed upon last spring to reduce nuclear arms.

Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) who chairs the senate Foreign Relations committee says the committee will vote favorably on the treaty in mid September and he expects ratification by the senate after the mid term elections. TheHill.com has more here.

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